M

sipping champagne from crystal flutes. The air is thick with the scent of expensive

hoping no one notices how out of place I am

sing an eyebrow but saying nothing as he pour

d it too." Whiskey. Neat. Something to war

my throat, and for the first time all night

ise and the warmth wash over me, tryin

n the moment, the world around m

them again,

tire world changes. There was before. And

ng, ten, maybe twenty years older than me, with an air of quiet

ed suit, the dark fabric hugging h

outside, but it's his eyes that catch me of

staring di

e to my cheeks. But I can still feel his gaze on me, as if it's pulling me t

, but it does little to calm the sudden rush of nerves.

ck at him again. He hasn't moved, but now there's the faintes

marching over a

e smooth and deep, with j

ment, then nod. "In

t he's not just looking at me, but into me-like he

y comforting, like he understands

shouts. "Come m

away, fixing his eyes on me. "Something's upset you

ss I'm having one of those days. Got any drugs? Or a barn you could tak

pepto bismol. I hear it's soporif

I freeze, wincing as I realize what I ju

ame?" His voice has turned low and intimate,

say. "Emi

holding out his han

p is firm, his hand warm, and for a brief second, the world around us seems to fade away. It's j

l that?"

ard, unable

letting go, the silence between us growing heav

steps closer, his hand still holding mine, his eyes da

warm against my cheek,

rce, urgent, like he's been waiting f

y body reacting before my mind can catch up. My hands move to his ches

ything that's happened tonight falling away as

s been weighing me down, and for the first time in wha

uickly as it

music, the laughter, the clinking glasses-everythi

racing from the kiss, trying to

eplaced by something guarded, almost distant. The warm

, his voice soft but fir

shared moment. I feel foolish, standing here in my ragged cloth

ke a grimace. "No need to go weird," I s

r in his eyes-regret, maybe, or longing-but it's gone before I can be sure. "I didn't mea

oul

ve heard enough. I step back, putting distance

any worse. "Look, Lucas. No harm done. Anyway, I should be going. Soone

nd then he says a command I can't dis